Key Figures
Who was Ernst Röhm?
The leader of the SA that was executed during the purge.
What year did the Night of Long Knives occur?
1934
What were Hitler's motives for the Night of Long Knives?
He wanted to eliminate all his opponents and potential threats.
Who were the SA?
A paramilitary organization created by Hitler which he used for violence and intimidation.
Who is Heinrich Himmler?
The head of the SS who helped carry out the purge.
What happened on June 30th?
The day that the Night of the Long Knives began.
Why did Hitler target the SA in the Night of Long Knives?
There was rising tension between Hitler and the SA. Hitler saw them as a political threat.
How big were the SA prior to the purge?
The SA had 3 million people before the purge
Who was Kurt von Schleicher?
A former chancellor of Germany and a rival of Hitler’s.
What happened on July 1st, 1934?
The date of Ernst Röhm’s death
What was Ernst Röhm’s motive?
He wanted to replace the conservative elite in the government with Nazis.
After the purge the number of SA members dropped by what percentage?
40%
Who is Gustav von Kahr?
The Bavarian chief of state who refused to support Hitler’s Beer Hall Putsch.
What date (month, day, and year) did the Night of the Long Knives end?
July 2nd, 1934
Why was Gustav von Kahr a target in the Night of Long Knives?
He refused to support Hitler's Beer Hall Putsch.
What is another name for the SA?
Brown shirts
Who is Reinhard Heydrich?
He worked closely with Hitler and oversaw the operation, helping coordinate arrests and executions.
What day did Hitler order a meeting with all the SA leaders to arrest them and then later execute them? (month, day, year)
June 30, 1934
Why was Ernst Röhm one of the main targets in the Night of Long Knives?
How did Hitler use propaganda against the SA to justify the purge?
He used propaganda to say that the SA was planning to take over the government or form a putsch.